Dental bridge lock



Aug 16, 1938. F. BRECHT DENTAL BRIDGE LOCK Filed Feb. 1, 1937 INVEN TdR. Maxims/w.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE DENTAL BRIDGE LOCK Friedrich L. Brecht, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application February 1, 1937,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to removable bridges of the type known a s semi-fixed bridges which the patient cannot remove, but which may be removed by the den form of locking means to secure a tist, and especially to a simple bridge or simimay be easily pla cured or locked with relation to ced in position and rigidly seadjacent permanent supporting teeth; to provide a bridge in which the locking means is inserted from the biting surface of the teeth so as to be completely hidden and in a of the tongue, but

position to at the same prevent irritation time to be readily accessible to the dentist; to provide interlocking members arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the bridge, said i nterlocking members being in the form of T-shaped sockets secured by inlays or similar means to the permanent teeth, and

T-shaped tongues secured at opposite ends of the bridge; and further, to interlocking the tongue provide means for members and the bridge supported thereby with relation to the sockets in which they are inserted.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the-bridge showing it secured with relation to adjacent anchor teeth; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1 showing the interlocking means between the bridge and the anchor teeth;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the socket members Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the locking perspective view of one of the tongue n view of one of the tongue Fig. '7 is a plan view of one of the locking pins; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the sockets;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the position of the tongue and the locking pin with relation to the socket before the tongue and locking pin are lowered into the socket; and

Fig. 10 is a sec tion similar to Fig. 9 showing the tongue inserted in the socket and the pin in looking position.

Referring to the ticularly to Figs. 1

drawing in detail, and parand 2, A and B indicatelive teeth in which a bridge D is to be fitted. The

Serial No. 123,372

bridge may be constructed of gold or any suitable metal, and will carry two or more artificial teeth as conditions may demand. The bridge may be constructed in any suitable manner and it differs from the usual bridge only to the extent that 5 a T-shaped tongue member E is soldered or otherwise secured to each end of the bridge.

The anchor or permanent teeth A and B wil be provided with gold inlays such as indicated at a and b in the usual way, and cast integral therewith, and otherwise secured will be socket members F to receive the T-shaped tongues of the bridge.

Broadly, the structure so far described is not new, but the means for securing the tongue members against removal from the sockets when inserted therein is new, and is constructed as follows: Referring to Fig. 5, 2 indicates a soldering lug and 3 a pair of wings which, together with the lug 2, forms a T-shaped tongue. In the face of the tongue is a semi-circular groove 4 which terminates at the lower end in a semicircular recess 5. The socket member shown in Fig. 3 is provided with Wings 6, sides I, and a back 8, and an integral soldering lug 9, and be- 25 tween the wings, sides and back is formed a T- shaped recess or socket of a. size to'receive the T-shaped tongue shown in Fig. 5. The back portion of the socket has a semi-circular shaped groove l formed therein which terminates in a semi-circular recess ll, said groove and recess being of the same size and complementary to the groove and recess formed in the T-shaped tongue. In Fig. 4, a pin I2 is shown which is slotted at the upper end and provided on its lower end with a cam or lug I4. This pin is of substantially the same length as the semi-circular grooves formed in the T-shaped tongue and socket, and, furthermore, is of a diameter to fit between the grooves when the tongue is inserted in the socket. Cam or lug I4 similarly seats in either of the recesses or II, and by rotation of the pin may be swung from one recess into the other as will hereinafter appear.

In actual operation, it will be understood that 45 the inlays a and b will be made in the anchor teeth in the usual manner, and that the socket members will be soldered or cast so as to form an integral part of the inlays. Similarly, when the bridge is made, the T-shaped tongues will be 50 soldered or cast integral with the metal forming the bridge and the opposite ends thereof; hence when the work is completed, the bridge may be dropped into position as shown in Fig. 2 and may there be locked against removal. When the 55 bridge is to be placed in position, a pin I2 is placed in each T-shaped tongue, half of each pin will rest in the semi-circular groove 4, and the lugs I4 will project into the semi-circular recesses 5. The position that the pins should assume when the bridge is to be lowered into the socket is clearly shown in Fig. 9. When the bridge is lowered, only half of each pin will project from the faces of the tongues, but as the sockets are provided with semi-circular grooves I 0, the pins will slide down through these grooves. When the tongue finally seats in the bottom of the sockets, it will be only necessary for thev ja'cent the inner ends thereof, and each groove dentist to rotate each pin a half-revolution, as in so doing, the lugs I4 will swing out of the recesses 5 and into recesses I I. Half of each pin will at the same time engage a portion of the bottoms of the recesses 5, or that portion indicated at 5a, Fig. 10, thus preventing the bridge from being removed until the tated to swing the lugs back into the sockets 5. It will be understood that a snug, tight fit will be maintained between the pins I2 and the socket and tongue members, and that a similar fit will be maintained between the lugs I4 and the recesses I I so that the pins and lugs will be frictionallyretalned when in looking position.

The anchoring structure for the opposite ends of the bridge, that is, the tongues and sockets, forms a rigid and substantial support for the bridge, and as the locking means employed is exceedingly simple and readily accessible, the dentist may insert or remove a bridge with practically no loss of time. The bridge may thus be removed from time to time for repairs, inspection, or the like. The anchoring means to seat the tongues and sockets are hidden by the inlays and the bridge work, and as such, will not be visible. The locking means with the pins and lugs I 4 are similarly hidden, and as they are inserted from the biting surface of the teeth, irritation of the tongue is prevented. The locking means is furthermore. fully enclosed by the tongue and socket members, and as such, cannot be jammed or damaged due to excessive pressure applied by the teeth.

While this and other features of the present invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims and that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may pins are again ro-" be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a removable denture of the character described where there is a permanent tooth and a removable tooth a socket member adapted to be mounted in one tooth and a tongue adapted to be mounted on the other and fitting the socket, complementary semi-circular shaped grooves formed in the adjoining faces of the socket and tongue, said grooves extending from the outer ace of the socket and tongue to a point adterminating in an enlarged recess, a pin disposed between the grooves, and means on the inner end of the pin adapted through rotation of the pin to inte lock the tongue and socket.

2. In aremovable denture of the character described where there is a permanent tooth and a removable tooth a socket member adapted to be mounted in one tooth and a-tongue adapted to be mounted on the other and fitting the socket, complementary semi-circular shaped grooves formed in the adjoining faces of the socket and tongue, said grooves extending from the outer face ofthe socket and tongue to a point adjacent the inner ends thereof, and each groove terminating in an enlarged recess, a pin disposed between the grooves, and a lug on the inner end of the pin adapted through rotation of the pin to interlock the tongue and socket.

3. In a removable denture-of the character described a substantially T-shaped tongue and a co-acting socket member, said tongue having a semi-circular shaped groove formed in the face thereof, and said groove extending substantially the'full length of the tongue, said groove terminating at-its inner end in a recess, a complementary groove and recess formed in the adjacent face of the socket member, a pin of substantially the same length as the grooves and adapted to be-received between the grooves, said pin having a lug on its inner end adapted to be received by the recess in the tongue, and said pin adapted to be inserted in unison with the tongue into the socket, and means on the outer end of the pin for rotating it so as to swing the lug from the recess in the tongue into the recess formed in the socket and thereby lock the tongue and pin against removal from the socket.

1 FRIEDRICH L. BRECHT. 

